Motor vehicle



Now. a, @1923. 1,47%93 E. G. GUNN MOTOR VEHI CLE Filed Aug. 28, 1920 2 sheets-sheet 1 New. 6, 1923.

E. G. GUNN MOTOR VEHI CLE Filed Aug. 28, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EARL G. GUNN, 0F DETROIT, MTCHIGAN,

eia-nae I a a sac.

ASSIGNOR T0 PACKARD MOTOR CAR COM- PANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIG, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

Application filed August 28, 1920. Serial No. 406,682.

7 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known. that I, EARL G. GUNN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Detroit, Wayne County, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to motor vehicles and more particularly, to shock absorbers for such vehicles.

Various types of shock absorbers are now on the market and practically all these devices operate in a manner to retard the relative movement of the vehicle frame and axle. Some of these devices retard the relative movement of one of the elements, such as the axle, with respect to the other element, or frame, in either direction away from the normal or initial position of the axle. Others retard the movement of the axle with respect to the frame in one direction only, or dissipate the shock by retarding the return movement or rebound of the axle.

It has been found, however, by experimenting that the most eflective device of this character is one that will 'permit substantially free movement of the frame or axle away from the initial or intermediate position in either direction, but will retard the return movement from either extreme position to the initial or normal position.

()ne of the objects of the invention, therefore, is to provide a shock absorber that will permit substantially free movement of the axle or frame away from its initial position but will dissipate or absorb the shock of the return movement from either extreme position to the intermediate or initial position. Another object of the invention is to provide a shock absorber that will be compact in construction and can readily be applied to and is adaptable for various sizes and kinds of vehicles.

Further objects'of the invention will appear from the followin specification taken in connection with the rawings which form a part of this application, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a shock absorber constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a view taken at righ angles to Fig. 1 showing certain parts broken away and "certain parts in section;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view illustrating the intake valve;

Fig. 4 isa detail sectional view of the intake valve shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the valve guiding member;

Fig. 6 illustrates in side elevation another form of shock absorber constructed in accordance with my invention; and

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 6.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive will first be described, and this construction comprises briefly a casing adapted to be secured to the vehicle frame and having a cylinder formed on or secured thereto, said, casing having also .mounted therein means, such as a rock shaft, adapted to' be secured to the vehicle axle. The device illustrated particularly in Figs. 1 and 2 belongs to that class of shock absorbers known as the hydraulic type, the casing being filled with some fluid such as oil. A piston is mounted in the cylinder and is normally retained in a position at the bottom of the cylinder by means such as a cam, this cam bein carried by a rock shaft and the rock sha t being operatively connected to the vehicle axle, as above stated. When the vehicle frame or axle is displaced from its normal intermediate position, the piston is permitted to rise under the influence'of a spring and the fluid enters the cylinder through an intake opening formed therein, The return movement of the axle or frame, however, forces the piston downwardly and forces the fluid out of the cylinder through restricted openings, thereby gradually dissipating the shock.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown a casing which in this instance is made intwo sections, 10 and 11, one .of the sections being screw-threaded to the other. The sec- 1 tion 11 has formed thereon orsecured thereto outwardly extending lugs 12, by means of which it is secured to the frame 13 of the motor vehicle. This section is closed at its upper end by means of a cap-14. Arock shaft 15' is rotatably mounted-in the walls of the casingand one end of the rock shaft extends through the casing and has secured thereto an arm 16 which is adapted to be connected-' to an axle 17 of the vehicle. A ach'ng member 18 surrounds the end of tii shaft above mentioned and prevents the escape of oil enclosed within the casing, a ring being prevented from so doing when the 19 surrounding the packing. The opposite end of the rock shaft is spaced from the outer surface of the casing and the opening in the casing is closed by means of a disk 20.

I'ntermediate its ends, the rock shaft 15 i has secured thereto a cam 21, the cam being secured to the rock shaft by a stud 22 which is threaded into the cam and extends into the rock shaft.

A cylinder 23 is formed on orsecured to section 11 of the casing and extends downwardly into section 10 and has a piston 24 slidably mounted there-in. has formed thereon upwardly extending lugs 25 in which is mounted a pin or roller 26. As shown in Fig. 1, the piston is hol low and itsup-per wall has a pair of openings 27 leading from the interior of the pie-- ton to the bearing surface for the pin 26 and permitting a limlted amount of oil to pass therethrou'gh to the bearing surface. The pin 26 is engaged by the cam 21 carried by the rock shaft 15, the piston being retained in its lowest position in the cylinder when the arm 16 is disposed in its intermediate or horizontal position.

The cam 21 and pin 26 are so constructed and arranged that a slight movement in either direction of the arm 16, andconsequently of the rock shaft and cam, will permit very little movement of the piston in the cylinder, and therefore, there is substantially' no retarding of the return movement of the arm in either direction.

The lower end of the cylinder 23 has threaded thereon a cap 28 having an opening 29 therein which constitutes an inlet opening or port for the cylinder. The cap 28 has seated thereon on its inner surface a valve guiding member 30 illustrated in de-' tail in Fig. 5, this member having a cylindrical portion 31 and a flat portion or flange 32 extending outwardly from the portion 31. The cylindrical wall 31 has a plurality of radial openings 33 through which the oil may pass into the interior of the piston. An intake valve 34'is slidably mountedin the valve guiding member 30, this valve having also a cylindrical portion 35, a flange por tion 36 and radially extending webs 37,, the Webs engaging the inner walls of the cylindrical portion 31 of the valve guiding member 30. As illustrated in detail in Fig. 4, the web portions 37'of the intake valve are notched on their lower outer corners, as shown at 38, these notches cooperating with I 'the openings 33 in the valve guiding memher in permitting the these openings.

A coil compression spring 39 is seated at passage of oil through its lower end on the,valve guiding member 30 and at its upper end engages the upper wall of the piston, this spring constantly The piston 24 tending to force the piston upwardly and axle and frame are in their initial or normal ,positions by means of the cam 21, which, as above stated, engages the pin 26 carried by the piston.

The intake valve 34 is normally seated on the intake port 29 in the following manner: A hollow spindle 40 is slidably mounted in the inner wall of the cylindrical portion 35 of the intake valve, this spindle having means hereinafter described for permitting the gradual egress of the fluid or oil from the interior 0 the piston and cylinder, and also being provided with means constituting a relief valve for relieving-the pressure caused by excessive shocks or strains. The opening formed in the inner wall of the cylindricai portion 35 of the valve 34 constitutes an outlet port for the fluid, and this port is normally, closed by means of an outwardly extending .fla'nge 41 formed on the hollow spindle 40, "this flange constituting the valve for closing the port. A coil compression spring 42 engages at its lower end the upper surface of the cylindrical wall 35 of the valve 34,and at its upper enda washer 43 which surrounds the spindle 40 and is retained in place by means of a cotter pin 44 carried by the spindle; fr-he gradual egress of the fluid is permitted by means of a downwardly extending restricted opening 45 formed in the lower end of the spindle40, this lower end being reduced in section and solid in cross seetion'except for the opening 45. A cap 46 is screwthreaded to the lower end of the spindle and has a chamber 47 formed therein and disposed below the spindle 40. Openings 48 are formed in the wall of the cap and permit the passage of oil from thechainb er 47 into the casing 10. The cap 46 has alsoformed thereon an outwardly extendingflange 49 and a'spring 50 is interposed between the flange '49. and the lower surface of the cap 28 carried by the cylinder 23, lugs 51 being formed on the cap andreta-i'ning the spring in position. 3

From the above description it will be seen that the oil. which passes into the interior of the piston 24 may pass freely into the upper end .of the hollow spindle'.40, and from this spindle is' gradually forced out through restricted openings, 45 and 48 by the return of the piston to its normal position under the action of the cam 21. How ever, in order to relieve the pressure when the device is placed under excessive strain, the hollow portion of the spindle 40 is provided adjacent the relief valve 41 with a plurality of elongated. radial openings 52, these openings being disposed just above the relief valve and being uncovered as the spindle 40 is forced downwardly against the ac tion of the spring 42 by the rapid descent of the piston.

nevapea 8 The embodiment of the invention just dewhich are uncovered by the downward movescribed operates in the following manner: ment of the spindle 40.

Assuming that the device is used on a motor As above stated in the specification, the vehicle and that the section 11 of the casing objects of the invention are also attained by is secured to one part of the vehicle, as the the embodiment of the invention shown in frame, and that the arm 16 is secured to Figs. 6 and 7. Referring now to these fig-v t-he vehicle axle, it will be understood that ures, I have shown therein a frame memthe full line position of these elements shown ber 53 of a motor vehicle, this member havin Fig. 1 represents the normal position of ing mounted thereon a shock absorber rethe frame and axle and of the shockabsorberu tarding member 54, which in this instance When the vehicle is traveling over an unconsists of a snubber. Any of the common even road surface, there will, of course, be forms of snubbers may be utilized, and the relative movement between the axle and one illustrated, includes a casing 55 which is frame and therefore between the elements of secured to the frame 53 of the vehicle and the shock absorber which are secured to these encloses a strap 56 which is connected to a vehicle parts. This relative movement will spring 57 in any suitable manner, this spring cause the arm 16 to move upwardly or downbeing normally under compremion and bewardly, and as this arm moves from its iniingadapted to take up any slack in the strap tial position, the cam 21 will alsobe displaced 56 due to the relative movement, of the frame from its initial, intermediate, or full line poor axle ofthe vehicle. The inner end of the sition toone of the ositions shown in dotted spring is secured to a spindle 58 carried by lines in Fig. 1. T is movement of the cam the casing 55. The free end of the strap 56 'iwardly: This outward flow of the will release the piston 24, thereby permitting is drawnoutwardly through an opening 59 this member to move upwardly under the ac- 111 the casing an 1 ur to one n 60 tion of th spring 39, It sho ld. b not d of, a lever 61 pivoted at 62 toa bracket 63 that the initial relative movement of the carried by the frame member 53 of the veframe and axle from theirrhormal positions hicle, the end 60 of the lever being offset, as is not resisted but that these elements may e y illustrated ii gh pp site movefreely to their extreme positions. Hownd f the lever 61 is Connected by a link ever, the rebound or returnvmovement of the 64 o an axle 65 f e i i being 1mframe and axle will be opposed by the enderstood that the axle and frame are congagement of the cam. 21. with the pin 26 carn e by the usual vehicle springs 66.

ried bythe piston. The upward movement The construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the piston above described will open the perates as f 1l i When the axle and by the movement of the i ton, it b i g unpositions with respect to each other, the lever derstood that the spring 50 is of such strength 1 is disposed substantially horizontally, as that this suction overcomes the tension of sh n in Fig. 61 'When, however, the axle the spring. The o ening of th int kev l moves away from its normal position in permits the il or fluid in th in t fl either direction, the lever 61 is swung on its through the port 29, into the interior of the pivot 2 and the movement o hi e er in piston and ylinder, 3; orti of th il either direction will cause a slack in the flowing through the ening 33 f d in strap 56, which is immediately taken up by the intake valve guiding member 31. When t sp ing 57 in e nllh r- The return the piston is forced downwardly by th r movement of the axle in either direction will turn movement of the vehicle frame andaxle, therefore b 'OPP B by he snu ber and the the oil which has been drawn into the piston shock of the re und Will be dissipated.

and cylinder must necessarily be forced outth gh Certain specific embodiments of il i the invention have been illustrated and deintake valve 34 due to the suction created frame are in their intermediate o l 0 permitted, by the restricted openings 45 and i it ll be ers d that the in- 48, it being understood that th oil flows vention is capable of further modification downwardly through the hollow portion of and a ha g s iii the Construction nd the spindle 40. The gradual re f th "arrangement ofthe various cooperating parts oil will dissipate the shock on the return may be made without departing from the movement of the frame and axle to their spirit or scope of the invention as'expressed initial positions. Under excessive or severe in the following laims. i

shocks, however, it has been found that the Having described'my' invention, what I restricted openings do not permit the oil to cl a d desire o e u by Letters Patent pass as rapidly from the interior of the pisis ton and cylinder as is desirable or necessary,'* 1. A shock absorber comprising a member and in order to relieve this pressure, the *holadapted to be secured to one of two relalow spindle is permitted to move longituditively movable elements, a member adapted nally under the pressure of the oil, forcing to be secured to the other of said elements, the relief valve 41 from its seat and permitand resiliently controlled means carried by ting the oil to pass through the openings 52 the first named member and adaptedtoresist only the return movement of said elements from their extreme positions to their initial positions.

2. A shock absorber comprising a casing, a cylinder disposed in said casing, a piston in said cylinder, said cylinder having a port adapted to admit fluid to said cylinder, a valve seating on said port, means for seating said valve, and a second valve carried by said first named valve.

3'. A shock absorber comprising a casing, a cylinder disposed in said casing, a piston mounted in said cylinder, a port formed in' said cylinder and adapted to admit fluid thereto, an inwardly openingvvalve seated on said port, means for seating said valve, and an outwardly opening valve carried by said first named valve.

4. A shock absorber comprising a casing, a cylinder disposed in said casing, a piston mounted in said cylinder, a port in said cylinder adapted to admit fluid thereto, a Valve member seating on said port and having an opening-therethrough from said casing to said cylinder, and a valve carried by said valve member, normally closing said opening, and meansfor closing said valve.

5. A shockabsorber comprising a casing, a cylinder disposed in said casing, a piston in said cylinder, a port in said cylinder and adapted to admit fluid thereto, a valve member seating on said port and having an opening therethrough from said casing to said cylinder, a valve carried by said valve member normally closing said opening, and resilient means for closing saidvalves.

6. A shock absprbercomprising a casing,

, a cylinder disposed in said casing, a piston mounted. in said cylinder, a port in said cyl inder adapted to admit fluid thereto, a valve member seating on said port and having opening therethrough from said casing to said cylinder, a valve carried by said valve member normally closing said opening and opening in adirection opposite to said valve member, and means for closing said valve.

7,, A shock absorber comprising a casing, a cylinder disposed in said casing, a piston mounted in said cylinder, a port in said cylinder adapted to admit fluid thereto from 'saidcasing, a valve seating on said port,

means for seating said valve, and a second valve carried by said first named valve and adapted to permit the egress of fluid *fr onf.

said cylinder.

4 8. A shock absorber for cushioning the movement of two relatively movable members comprising a casing adapted to be secured to'one'of'said members, a rock shaft having an arm adapted to be secured to the:

, other of said members, a cylinder carriedby said casing,-a piston mounted in said cylinder, resilient'meanst'ending to force said plston in one direction, and means earned by said rock shaft normally resisting the actuating force of said resilient means and retaining said piston in a position to compress said means.

9. A shock absorber comprising a casing, a cylinder formed there1n,'a piston carried 'by said cylinder, means independent of the piston for establishing a free flow of fluid from said casing to said cylinder, and means carried by said last named means for restrlct'ing the flow of fluid from said cylinder. 10. A shock absorber comprisinga casing,

a cylinder carried thereby, a piston carriedfor. resisting the relative movement between said relatively movable members in a plurality of directions.

12. A shock absorber comprising a casing adapted to be secured to one of two relatively movable elements, a member adapted to be secured to the other of said movable elements, and hydraulic means carried by said casing for resisting the movement of said elements from extreme positions of separation to an initial position of adjustment.

13. A shock absorber comprising a casing, a cylinder mounted therein, a piston mounted in said cylinder, a port in said cylinder for admitting fluid, a'valve member for closing said port, an opening in said valve member, a spindle extending through said opening and having an opening therein, a valve carried by said spindle and adapted to close the opening in said valve member, and resilient means for closing said valve member and said valve.

14. A shock absorber including a cylinder, a piston mounted in said cylinder, said cylinder having an inlet opening, a valve 15. In a shock absorber,'a cylinder, a pis ton reciprocably mounted therein, said cylinder having an inlet port disposed below said piston, resilient means for forcing said piston in one direction, a valve closing the inlet port in said cylinder and having an openingtherethrough, a spindle mounted in the opening in said valve and having a valve formed thereon adapted to closesaid opening; and means carri ed by said spindle aeraoee opening communicating with the interior of said piston and cylinder, and having restricted openings leading from said relatively large opening to the exterior of said cylinder. v.

17. In a shock absorber, a member having afluid containing chamber, a cylinder mounted in said chamber and having a port opening thereinto, a' piston mounted in said cylinder, a valve seated onthe port ofsaid .jcylin'derfa spindle carried by said valve,

and resilient means engaging said. 0. linder and spindle and adapted to seat sai valve, said spindle havin means permitting the gradual egress of uid from said cylinder.

18. In a shock absorber, a member having a fluid containing chamber, a cylinder .mounted therein, a piston mounted in said cylinder, said cylinder having a-wall provided with an inlet port, a valve seating on said port,'and relief valve carried by said last named valve.

19. In combination with the frame and axle of a motor vehicle, a shock absorber comprising a retarding member secured to one of said vehicle elements, a'lever, and operative connections between said lever and the other vehicle element and between said lever and said retarding member, said connections permitting substantiall 'free movement of the axle in either irection from its intermediate position but retarding the return movement of said. axle from either extreme position to its intermediate position.

20. In combination with the frame and axle of a motor vehicle, a shock absorber comprising a retarding member carried by the vehicle frame, a lever mounted on said frame, operative connections between said lever and the vehicle axle and between said lever and the retarding member, said shock absorber operating to permit substantially free movement of the axle in either direction away from its normal position but retarding the return movement of said axle from either extreme position to the normal position.

21. In. combination with' the frame and axle of a motor vehicle, a shock absorber comprising, a retarding member earried by the vehicle frame, a lever pivoted on said frame and normally disposed in a horizontal plane, and operative connections between said lever and said retarding member and between said lever and said vehicle axle.

22. In combination with the frame and axle of a motor vehicle,v a shock absorber comprising'a retarding-member carried by the vehicle frame, a lever pivoted on said frame and normally disposed in'a horizontal plane, operative connections between one end of said lever and said retarding member and between the opposite end of said lever and said vehicle axle.

23. In combination with the frame and I axle of a motor vehicle, a snubber mounted on said frame, a lever pivoted on said frame,

and operative connections between said lever and said snubber, and between said lever and said axle.

24. In combination with a vehicle frame and axle, a snubber mounted on said frame,

a horizontally disposed lever pivotallyconnect d with said frame, and operative connections between one end of said lever and said snubber and between the other end of said lever and said axle.

In testimony whereof I afix my si ature.

ARL G, G v N. 

